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Bennett Does Not Rule Out Return To Bucs

February 3rd, 2014

Prospective free agent Michael Bennett has the door open for the Bucs.

Last night Joe was confident many Bucs fans needed copious amounts of Pepcid AC (maximum strength), and it wasn’t because of the hot wings and beers they had. No, Bucs fans had indigestion because they watched Seattle defensive lineman Michael Bennett playing in the Super Bowl.

Yes, the same Michael Bennett who led the Bucs in sacks in 2012. Yes, the same Michael Bennett who the Bucs let walk away for no good reason.

Yes, the same Michael Bennett who led the Super Bowl champion Seahawks in sacks.

Well, Bucs fans, Joe hopes this helps calm your acid reflux from last night. When Joe spoke with Bennett at Super Bowl Media Day last week (man, the eight degrees was so friggin’ cold, Joe finally thawed out in that 80 degree day yesterday), Joe asked Bennett, who is to be a free agent this offseason, if he would rule out a return to the sack-needy Bucs, Bennett clearly left the door open for the Bucs to come get him.

“Aw, I am not ruling out a return to anywhere,” Bennett said. “But I am playing in the Super Bowl. (If a return to the Bucs) happens, it happens.”

Joe will have much more on Bennett later this week (he’s got a lot of stuff on him) but what impressed Joe with Bennett was, he had ample chances to criticize the Bucs for letting him go (he wanted to stay), and every time Bennett was set up by various reporters to badmouth the Bucs, he instead praised them. It was impressive.

Given the fact new Bucs general manager Jason Licht has emphasized value in free agents, and the Bucs desperately need to bring heat on quarterbacks, and considering how well Bennett also plays the run, Joe has to wonder if Bennett is on Lovie Smith’s radar for 2014.

Would be a great pick up. Not the economy pick that it would have been by keeping him before but i’ll be glad to have him come in now that he’s seen how it’s supposed to be done and he knows what a great defense is supposed to look like and he can be one of our leaders that doesn’t let our young guys deliver less than what is necessary to achieve that here with the bucs

Seatle stated publicly yesterday that they will resign Bennett so even though mike Bennett said to you joe that he wouldn’t rule out a return he just won a Super Bowl last night and that changes things. Seattle wants to repeat and I’m sure mike Bennett wants to as well so I doubt that our buccaneers will get another chance at Bennett…sucks man well that’s stupid Greg schiano for you.

Ask yourself if you were either Mike Bennett or Greg Hardy, what would be your incentive to come to the Bucs but one? If all of 32 teams would like to have either or both of them, what did we have to do to get either one of them? No need to respond. The answer is obvious. We overpaid! Aren’t you tired of doing this?

A great “value” pick up? No, it would have been a great value pick up if Dominick would have signed this guy a year ago to a paltry 4 year/8 mill contract. Now, just coming off of a superbowl win where he lead the leagues best defense in sacks, you think Bennett’s asking price is going to be some kind of bargain??? Players that become free agents coming off of a superbowl winning season are notoriously overpaid by some desperate team. I don’t see why that wouldn’t be any different for Bennett. We could of had this dude for probably 4 years/8 mill… Now he’s gonna be wanting 8 mill PER year!

A lot of coaches around the NFL–” SAY”– “Hey you practice well, then I’ll make sure you get some play time. When that’s simply not the case because of guys big contract, draft status , etc etc.

Pete Carroll on the other hand doesn’t give a rats a$$, how long you’ve been with the team…how big your contract is…or draft status. IF YOU CAN PLAY —U WILL PLAY. It creates a super competitive yet fun environment. Guys out and play hard for coaches give them a fair shake.

Wait didn’t Jimmy Johnson do the same thing; with equally quick results.

I read the tweets that Seattle wants to sign Bennett, however nothing is for sure and also these “reports/tweets” came out after last night game. Does sound credible to me ESPECIALLY that no one has sources to confirm.

Bennett to the Bucs would be great, I don’t think he will be over payed as he is not a top DE but a solid player.

NFL is a Copy cat league
and what the Super Bowl showed as much as anything
is the value of a Beast Defensive Line
When you can put that much pressure with just those four
the rest of your defense is fine.
While the DB’s of Seattle got all the Pub
and even though they are good
the DLine should get a lot of credit for their success
Manning’s Interceptions last night were all tipped at the line
He had NO TIME to throw and they made him look nothing like a league MVP

Bennett will go to the team that pays him the most money, and why not? He just won a Super Bowl and led the Seahawks in sacks. He’ll cash in for sure. Will it be with the Bucs? I honestly think Tampa stands a good chance of bringing him back, but as we all know, when it comes to free agents from Super Bowl winning teams, expect the bidding to potentially get out of control, and Bennett could go from underrated impact player to overpaid impact player.

@ LUVMYBUCS
I actually agree with you on teams needs and draft, except the trade Revis part. I still believe that the Jets were complete idiots to trade him. At 100% the man is a beast! I’d take him over any corner in the league. Other then that, I think you’re spot on

And yes Bennett is good. But he’s gonna want to get paid. I’m not putting anything against him, but lets face it…. The Seahawks have a nasty DL. I think that made Bennett look better then he really is. Again, I’m not downing him because I missed him this season! Just feel he’s gonna try to get Hardy money and for that price I’d rather have Hardy

Joe, you keep bringing up that we let Bennett go for no good reason, and although in hindsight it was a bad decision there was a reason.

First, we weren’t going to get Bennett at the cost that Seattle paid him, and Bennett I’m sure wanted a multi-year deal being a starter and our primary sack leader. Which leads me to my second point, Bowers showed enough in a reserve role, that the only way we were going to see what this kid had was to start him. Do you really think Bennett would have accepted a back-up role? And at what cost to the Bucs?

Point is, Bennett had failed to crack double digits for the years he played with us, and Bowers had some bad breaks when we first drafted him, and yet sparingly when he had opportunities he showed promise. Mind you that he was considered a number 1 overall draft pick prior the knee issues. It was a gamble, and thus far we’ve lost.

This was Bowers first healthy season, and he failed to perform up to expectations. Bad coaching perhaps? Stunting? All I know is Bowers looks like an absolute animal, so I’m hoping with better coaching perhaps his numbers will improve. I hope the same for Clayborn.

I got over my selfish anger about Bennett being let go last night. I became very happy for him. No more indigestion, just glad to see him succeed since he basically didn’t get a fair shake here. He got what he deserves. I wish him well in all his future endeavors. Gotta just accept the fact that we screwed him and he landed on his feet.

First, we weren’t going to get Bennett at the cost that Seattle paid him, and Bennett I’m sure wanted a multi-year deal being a starter and our primary sack leader. Which leads me to my second point, Bowers showed enough in a reserve role, that the only way we were going to see what this kid had was to start him. Do you really think Bennett would have accepted a back-up role? And at what cost to the Bucs?

Point is, Bennett had failed to crack double digits for the years he played with us, and Bowers had some bad breaks when we first drafted him, and yet sparingly when he had opportunities he showed promise. Mind you that he was considered a number 1 overall draft pick prior the knee issues. It was a gamble, and thus far we’ve lost.

You force the young guy to bench his older teammate. You don’t just toss your leading sacker away, especially when that is a weakness of your team. Bennett was also one of the best defenders against the run. Bowers, so far, isn’t close.

Keep that broken record playing. Trenches trenches trenches. Last night proved there is more than one way to skin a cat. High power offense or great defense. Both building blueprints can work. But what will always be the same is the trenches. You HAVE to have control of the trenches. It doesn’t matter if you have Peyton Manning, if your line cant compete with the other teams line, you will have bad days.

If anyone thinks that Clayborn will not be on this team and not starting, is truly an idiot. Under Raheem, Clayborn had 7.5 sacks as a rookie which lead that team. 3.5 sacks better then Bennett. Now they’re going back to that system, Lovie will see what Clayborn can do.

With the Super Bowl and the hype I agree I think he will get Over paid now and we already have one lineman thats gonna require some big money to keep. Anyone remember mid season when Bill Sheridan and Schiano let our line run free and they had a field day? I can’t remember which game it was but they did they’re thing and got pressure and I believe a few sacks that game. After that they went right back to the stunts. These new coaches have to evaluate what the guys we have are actually capable of. We may not need any high priced free agents. It may be a matter of better coaching and schemes. I’m willing to put my trust into this new regime to bring out the best in our players and bring in who we NEED. On the radio today they were naming all these great players on Seattles defense. 3rd rounder fourth rounder 3rd rounder 5th rounder. A good GM can obviously build through the draft…just because that is what Rockstar tried to do and it didn’t work does not mean it doesn’t work at all. Nothing wrong with bringing in some talent but every player in the league came out of college. They are out there it’s up to Lovie and Licht now.

Bennett is a good player. If we can get him for the price that pass rushers went for last season I would take him in a heart beat. But I’m guessing he will demand more money as this is now becoming a trend for him. 1 good season for the bucs didn’t deserve a big contract. But leading the Super Bowl champs (and number 1 defense) in sacks is gonna be a big pay day for Bennett. He’s not an elite pass rusher but he’s a complete DE who can run stop and pass rush, an expensive combination.